Safety gas pressure regulator



Nov. 17, 1942. c. c. ABBoTT 2,302,284

SAFETY GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed Feb. 2o, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 9 52 J6 2 z2 5 526 o o 5 1-" Z. 28

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c. c. ABBOTT 'SAFETY GAs PRESSURE REGULATOR "2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2051940.

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Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT erstes 2,302,284 SAFETY GAS PRESSUREA REGULATOR Corwin C. Abbott,

Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Equitable' Meter Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 20, 1940, Serial No. 319,874

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to fluid pressuree regulators, and relates particularly to regulators of that type having means to prevent or limit leakage of gas to the exterior in case of leakage occurring through the regulator diaphragm.

In gas pressure regulators, particularly when'V used in a confined space such as on a gas range in a kitchen, a leak in the diaphragm allowing gas to escape through the vent may create a fire or explosion hazard. It leak not exceeding about one cubic foot per hour for natural gas is not enough to provide a dangerous accumulation of gas in a kitchen as ordinarily ventilated. However, if the operating vent or orifice is made so small as to limit the flow therethrough regulator ceases to respond to changes in outlet pressure, or responds too slowly to be practicable.

On a gas range employing a pilot light, it has been found that when the demand for gas in creases suddenly, as for example, when the broiler or oven burner is turned on, the regulator diaphragm should respond immediately to maintain the outlet pressure to prevent snufng out of the pilot light. `However, on the other hand,

when the broiler burner is suddenly turned off, it! is not objectionable if the outlet pressure builds up for a short time, as this results merely in a larger pilot light flame until the pressure returns to normal. According to the present invention, I provide a regulator having two vent orices for the atmospheric pressure chamber, one of the vent orifices being suiciently small to prevent flow of gas greater than a safe rate therethrough, and the other vent being large enough to allow the regulator diaphragm to respond quickly-to a drop in pressure, and I control said orifices by a pressure or flow responsive valve member which closes the larger orice when the pressure in the at mospheric pressure chambr increases. fice of about one hundred thirty nve ten thousandths (0.0135) diameter is sumciently small to prevent a dangerous ow of gas therethrough.

The continued escape of gas through this small orifice acts as a warning sign that the regulator is not functioning properly.

- In the preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide an attachment for the ,atmospheric vent of a pressure regulator having a safety ori-r iice of sufficiently small size and an operating orice of larger size, and control these orifices by a valve of very light weight, so as to be responsive to the small pressure differences encountered in has been found that a to a permissible rate, the:

An oricomposed of a thin disk of polished mica, especially suitable for this purpose, although the invention is notv intended to be limited thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a gas pressure regulator of the safety type, which is inexpensive to manufacturerand is of simple construction. y

Still another object is the provision of a safety regulator in which the safety vent is controlled by a light weight freely moving valve which will not deteriorate under operating conditions.

A further object is the provision of a safety device capable of attachment to a standard type gas pressure regulator. y s y The invention will be described 4in greater detail in the following specification taken injcon- K nection with the accompanying drawings, wherein outlet passageway I5 is bored to I have found a valve is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention by way-of example, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a. vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention applied to a gas pressure regulator,

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a detail showing the valve in open position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a detail showing the valve in closed position, V

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View cf a modification, Y

Figure 5- is a. fragmentary view of a further modilcatoin with parts in section,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modification,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section of another modification,

Figure 8 is a view in section of another modication, and

Figure 9 is a view in section of a further modiiication. v

Referring to the drawings, the body I, which may be cast in a single piece with a depression 2 and a flange formed thereon, is bored to provide a valve stem guide 4, an expansionichamber 5, a tapered valve opening 6 and a threaded access hole 'I adapted to be closed by a plug 8. A valve member 9 suitably secured to a valve stern IB, is fastened in phragm II suitably clamped at its periphery between the coverI2 and the body l to provide a control chamber 2. The body is bored and threaded to provide an inlet I3 which is undercut at I4 so as to communicate with valve bore 6 by means of the access hole 'Land a reduced connect with the expansion chamber 5 and the regulator outlet I6. Control chamber 2 communicates with the exany suitable manner to a .dia- Y pansion chamber by means of the clearance provided between the bore 4 and valve stem I0 and connects with the reduced outlet passage I5 by a bore I1. The area of bore I1 preferably is at least three times the area of the clearance space between stem I and bore 4. The chamber I8 formed between the cover I2 and the diaphragm II communicates with the atmosphere through an orice of any suitable dimension located in a vent tube I9 connected to the cover I2. The diaphragm II is loaded by an adjustable spring 2I extending into spring tube 22, the end of which is sealed by a threaded spring tube cap 22. Any other suitable diaphragm loading means may be employed.

From the description so far pursued, it will be apparent that during operation of the regulator the diaphragm II moves up or down so as to cause valve 9 to open or close the valve orice 6 to maintain the outlet .pressure constant, this movement of the diaphragm causing ,a change of volumeof the vented chamber I8. When the volume of chamber IB is reduced by the diaphragm moving upwardly, air is forced from chamber I8 through vent 20 to the atmosphere, and when the volume of chamber I8 is increased by the diaphragm moving downwardly, air is sucked into chamber I8 through the vent 2i). Vent 20 preferably is of such size as to provide the proper degree of damping action on the diaphragm to prevent undesired pulsations ofthe regulator valve.

The vent tube I9 has a threaded bore, and a hexagonal body 23 having a threaded extension 24 is received therein. The body. 23 is machined to provide `a valve `edge or seat 25 which is` smoothly polishechand preferably is rounded. A central recess 2,6 is provided within valve edge 25 and a valveplate or member 21 is `adapted to seat on valve edge 25 and close the end of recess 26. Body 23 has a reduced portion 28 which receives a circular cap 29 with a pressed tight fit, thus providing achamber 30 between the end of body 23k and cap 29. Cap 29 also serves as a guide for the disc may be provided. A boss 3I on the cap is provided for a purpose presently to be described.

Recess 26 communicates with the atmosphere through a passage'33 of any suitable area, and

thus is maintained at atmosphericpressure. In'

the preferred embodiment this passage is about the same diameter as vent 28 and may be about 3yr/,r inch in diameter. Recess 25 also communicates with vented chamber I8 through a restricted safety vent or restricted orifice .34 of such area that rlow of gas therethrough at the usual pressure of the gas going through the regulator inlet cannot exceed a safe amount,.for example, about one-half cubic foot per hour. That vis, an increase in pressure in the vent chamberreduces the flow from the chamber to apredetermined amount. In a preferred embodiment, vent .34 is about .6135 inch in diameter. That is, vent 34 connects with an enlarged duct or passageway 35 provided in the body, which in turn connects with vent orifice 20 opening into chamber I8. Chamber 3B connects with duct.35, and hence with vented chamber I8 by means of a passage 36 which may be of substantially the same area as passage 33.

The operation ofthe invention now will be described. Assuming a relatively small flow through the regulator, the valve 9 will be slightly open and diaphragm II will be near its uppermost position. Recess 26 communicates with` Cil the atmosphere by means of duct 33, and also connects with chamber I8 by means of orifice 34, duct 35 and vent 20, so that chamber I8 will be at atmospheric pressure. Recess 26 also connects with chamber 30 by means of orifice 34 and ducts 35 and 3G, so that chamber 30 will be at the same pressure as recess 26. As the pressure in recess 26 and 30 are equal, valve plate 21 will be seated by its own weight on valve edge 25, as shown in Figure 3. Should the flow through the regulator suddenly increase, as for example, by the opening of a burner on the gas range, the pressure in outlet I6 will decrease and diaphragm II will immediately descend to open valve `9 to maintain the outlet pressure. As diaphragm II moves down, it tends to create a rarefaction in chamber I8 and passage 35 which is immediately communicated to closed chamber 33 through large passage 36, but is not communicated as rapidly to recess 26 because ofthe small size of vent `34, the large size of vent 33 maintaining atmospheric pressure in recess 25. The difference in pressure in chamber 30 and recess 26 will lift valve plate 21 oi valve edge 25, thus allowing air to flow rapidly into chamber I8 through large passage 36 as well as through small vent 34, this iiow being sufficiently rapid to allow the diaphragm II to move rapidly enough to maintain the required pressure in the outlet I6. The boss 3I prevents the valve disc 21 from being forced flat against the top of chamber 30 and held there by moisture, vacuum Caused by the flow of gas, or by any other cause. As soon as the pressures in chambers 30 and 26 .become substantially equal the'disc 21 again returns to its-seat 25.

Now, assuming a relatively large flow through 'the regulator, the valve 9 will be wide open,

diaphragm Ii will be near its extreme downward position, and valve plate 21 will be seated by itsown weight on valve edge 25. Now, ii the ow is suddenly decreased, the pressure builds up in outlet IS, thus causing diaphragm II to rise rapidly to tend to close valve9 so as to maintain a constant pressure in the outlet. As diaphragm II rises, it tends to vcompress the air in chamber I8, and thus creates a pressure slightly above atmospheric which is immediately communicated to closed chamber 30 through large passage 3B but is not communicated as rapidly to recess 26 because of the small size of vent 34. rlhe pressure in chamber 30 will, therefore, hold valve plate 21 on its seat, while the pressure in chamber I8 slowly escapes through vent 20 and vent 34 to the atmosphere by large passage 33. The slow escape of air from chamber I8 through vent 34 will cause sluggish action of'diaphragm II and slow closing of valve 9, resulting in a slight building up of pressure in outlet I6, which, however, is of no material disadvantage on gas ranges or other installations having a pilot flame, as it will merely increase the size of the pilot flame for a short interval.

However, slow opening of valve 9 is undesirable because the pressureis liable to fall in outlet I5 low enough to extinguish the pilot light.

Should the diaphragm II be ruptured or develop a large leak, the gas will flow through the diaphragm into chamber I8 to build up a pressure therein, which, as previously explained, is transmitted more quickly to chamber 30 than to recess 26. Valve disc 21 will be held on its valve seat 25, so that gas can escape from chamber I8 only by vent 34 into recess 26 and thence to atmosphere through passage 33. Because of the small size of vent 34, the flow of gas therethrough is maintained low enough .so that it creates no hazard. If the leak is large enough the pressure in chamber I8 will become equal to the pressure in chamber 2 and the valve 9 will fall wide open, thus allowing a free flow to theappliance. If desired, a second valve may be applied to the valve stem I to shut ofi fiow under such conditions, substantially as shown in Figure 2 of Patent No. 2,147,850, issued February 2l, 1939, to Allen D. MacLean.

In Figure 4, wherein like parts are correspondingly numbered, I have shown a modification in which vent tube I9 is omitted, the body 23 being directly secured to the regulator cover I2 in any suitable manner, as by swaging the end thereof. This modification operates substantially asidescribed in connection with Figures 1 to 3, and need not bev described in detail.

In the modifications shown in Figures to 9, like parts are correspondingly numbered. Referring to Figure 5, the cover I2 has the usual spring tube 22 closed by a cap 22 and a vent tube I9 which is bored and internally threaded and provides a vent connected to the chamber I8 in the cover. 'I'he attachment received in vent tube I9 comprises hollow body 40 having a reduced threaded end 4I with a passage 42 therethrough of substantially the same size as vent I9 connected with the interior chamber 43 thereof. A passageway 44 of about the same size as passage 42 is provided in the wall of body 40 and is adapted to be partially closed by a light leaf spring 45, held in place by a rivet 46 or in any other suitable manner. Spring 45 has a small orice 41 which is adapted to register with the operating orifice 44 and connects pasage 42 with passageway 44. The outer end of chamber 43 is closed by a threaded cap 48, which may be sealed to cap 22 by a suitable wire and lead seal.

In this modification, when the diaphragm II moves downward to increase the volume of chamber I 8, the air entering orifice 44 moves the spring 45 sufficiently off its seat to allow relatively free passage of air therethrough, and the air enters chamber I8 through passages 42 and 29. When the volume of chamber I8 is reduced, the air forced through vent 20 and passage 42 urges the spring 45 against the wall of chamber 43, thus closing ofi orice 44 and allowing escape of air only through the small vent 41 which is so small as to confine the fiow therethrough to less than about 1 cubic foot per hour.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, a spring 50 secured to the wall of tube 40 by rivet 46 has a nozzle member 5I with a small orifice 52 therethrough. A tapered orifice 53 in the wall of the tube provides a seat adapted to be closed by the tapered portion 54 of the nozzle member 5I. The nozzle may be secured to the spring 50 in any suitable manner, as by-passing the reduced interior end of the nozzle through a hole in the spring and swaging over the reduced end of the nozzle. In this modification the tapered surface of the nozzle co-operating with the tapered orifice 53, acts as a valve therefor in which orifice 53 is the operating Vent and 52 is the safety vent providing a reduced predetermined flow. In this modification, when the diaphragm moves downward, the air pressure forces the nozzle 5I inwardly away from the seat, thus opening the passage 53 for air into the vent chamber, and when the vent chamber decreases in size, the pressure of air forces the nozzle against its seat, thus closing olf the orifice 53 and providing escape forgas only through the small' safety vent 52. The nozzle 5I extending through the wall 49 acts as an indicator to show the operating conditiony of the regulator.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the cap 54 received in the modified body 55 has a hole 56 therethrough andthe spring 45A with a hole 41 therethrough is held in place by rivet 4S and operates in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 5. y

In Figure 8 the body 59 is closed by a cap 69 having an extension '6I withinwhich is received a Valve plate 62 having a small orifice 63 therein, and plate 62 is biased outwardly by a -spring 64. rIlhe opposite end of the spring abuts aA cap 65 forced into the extension 6I with aV pressed fit. Cap 65 is perforated at r66' to provide a passage for the flow ofair and cap has an orifice 61 therein of substantially the same size as hole 65 or vent 2U. In this modification, when the volume in chamber I8 increases, the :dow of air depresses plate B2 to open orifice 61 and allow fiow of air therethrough, through perforation 66 and vent 2U into the atmospheric chamber I8. When the volume of chamber I3 decreases, the plate 62 is forced against its seat by the spring 64 closing the orifice 61 and allowing escape of air only through the safety orifice 62. Spring 64 normally is under sufficient initial compression to hold plate 62 in this position.

In the modification shown in Figure 9 the vent tube 59 contains a cartridge comprising a, cup 10 having an orifice 12 therein at one end covered by a plate 62 which is held in position by the spring 64 abutting into the cup. This modification operates in the same manner as that shown in Figure 8, the orifice 63 acting as a safety orifice and openings 61, 12, 66 and 20 being of suitable size to co-operate with vent 20 to allow relatively free fiow of air therethrough.

It will be understood that in the modifications of Figures 5 to 9, wherein the closure member is perforated and is held against the operating vent by spring action, that the spring is adjusted or selected to have sufficient strength to allow relatively free movement of the closure member without interfering unduly with the operation of the regulator. In the modifications shown in Figures 1 to 4, the weight of valve plate 21 provides sumcient bias to normally hold it on its seat.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A safety attachment for gas pressure regulators comprising a body adapted to be connected to the vented chamber of a pressure regulator and having a relatively large passageway therein opening at all times to the atmosphere and terminating at its inner end in a valve seat, a valve member adapted to seat on said Valve seat, a housing enclosing said valve member and providing a pressure chamber on the opposite sideY thereof, a passageway connecting said pressure chamber with the vented chamber, and an orifice connecting said latter passageway to the first mentioned passageway.

2. A safety attachment for gas pressure regulators comprising a body adapted to be secured to a, pressure regulator casing and having a recess therein surrounded by a valve seat, a relatively large passage at all times connected to said recess to maintain said recess at atmospheric pressure, a rigid imperforate disc adapted to seat on said seat to close said recess, a housing for said the perforate cover 65 pressed Vdisc 'providing "a pressure Ichamber on the opposite' side of said'l disc, l"a `restricted safety vent adapted to connect said vented chamber with said recess, and a second passageway adapted to connect the pressure chamber with the vented chamber.

3. A safety attachment for a" gas pressure regulator having a breather chambercomprising-a body adapted to be connected thereto and' having a relatively large passageway therein at all times opening to the atmosphere, the innerend of the passageway providing a seat, a valve seated on said seat, said body providinga chamber on the opposite side of said valve,a relatively large 'passagewayin vsaid body adapted to beconnected to the breather chamber at one end andhaving a branch connected to the second mentioned chamber'at the other end, and a restricted orifice'in said body connecting said latter passageway to the first mentioned passageway.

4. A safetyattachment for a gas pressure regulator havinglabreather chamber comprising a body adapted to be connected thereto and having a recess adjacent one end surrounded by a seating periphery, a rigid imperforate plate yieldingly seated on said periphery by its own weight, a closure for the end of said body providing a chamber on the opposite side of said plate, a relatively large passageway in said body adapted to be connected to the regulator breather chamber at one end and connected to said recess at its otherend by a restricted orifice, a passageway joining said rst passageway and the second mentioned chamber, and a, third passageway open at all times and passing from said recess to the atmosphere. 

